LIGHTNING struck a new block of apartments in Smithies and set the roof on fire.
The bolt hit one end of the roof of the three-storey block and started a blaze in the roof space.
Fire crews spent over five hours at the block, part of a new Barratt's development on St Helen's Avenue, Smithies, putting out pockets of fires.
The six apartments in the block were unoccupied at the time.
Chris Burton, managing director at Barratt Yorkshire West, said: "An incident like this is a very unusual occurrence. I have not come across anything similar in over 20 years in the house building industry.
"We are carrying out an assessment of the fire damage. When this is complete we will be able to quantify what remedial works are required which will be carried out immediately."
